Method and apparatus for producing veneer wood



June 16,- 1936. A. G. SEIBER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING VENEER WOOD Filed March 27, 1935 A a g .41 n F M\M R HMWWJJ/ gwvzmoc ANDQEW 6. SEIBEQ Patented June 16, 1936 STATES Andrew G. ISeiber, Louisville, Ky., assignor to Wood-Mosaic 00.,

Incorporated, Highland Park, Louisville, Ky., a corporation of Kentucky Application March 27,

12 Claims.

This invention relates to the production of veneer wood and more particularly toa .method and apparatus for producing veneer of .the sliced type by a rotary motion.

An object of the invention .is tozmake possible, with the greatest convenience, ease and economy, a greater yield of high grade veneenfrom a given size and grade of logthan is'produced by methods and apparatus known heretofore, and thereby utilize a great range of small logs for the :production of high grade veneer, that would not .be possible they were put through the standard type slicer or other veneer processes.

Another object is to provide apparatus that can be attached to existing rotary veneer equipment to convert same into a one half rotary veneer cutting machine and a method of operating same to accomplish the above outlined ends.

A still further object is to supply and apply equipment that will enable a less trained and experienced operator to produce products equal in grade and quantity, from corresponding raw stock, to that to be delivered by the highest skilled artisan i. e. with theme of this equipment, less .training is required to produce a skillful operator than is the case with previously existing equipment.

Other objects and advantages of the method, structure and combinations are hereinafter set forth in detail and will be apparent :to persons skilled in the art to which this invention relates and to their advantages in so iar as they are patentably novel, I will claim, the same as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 represents a typical form of rotary veneer mill in elevation, between the true work centers of which is disposed a log, the center of which is carried in eccentric relation to said true centers by a novel detachable chuck.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of an attachment to be carried on each spindle or the shafts shown in Fig. 1, referred to herein as a chuck.

Fig. 3 is the side elevational view of .Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a modified chuck similar .in size and general structure to that shown in Figs. ,2 and 3 depicted in vertical cross section.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a cross section of the log shown in Fig. 1, together with two knives diametrically disposed in relation to each other and to the log.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged end view of the .log shown in Fig. 1, together with the imprint made by the dogs and center of the chuck shown in Fig. 2,

19.33, Serial No. 662,885

Structure and operation Rotatoryveneer mills of the type represented by Fig. .1 are so well known in the industry that only a general description of the major parts will be given. Numeral l0 indicates a heavy bed plate lilon which are constructed vertical heads or standards 1011, Ma in which are rotatively mounted axially aligned spindles or shafts II, II which are driven by-gears 12, I2 from power supplied through pinions l3, [3 attached to power shaft 14, suitably mounted in the bed plate. Hand wheels l5, 15 are provided to advance and return shafts H, H .for the .purpose of forcing chucks, carried by the juxtapositioned ends of said shafts, into the ends of log I6 vfor substantially supporting same which is to be operated upon by the usual cutter or knife carried in a knife cap mounted adjacent a pressure bar, the details of which are not shown as they form no part of this invention and their structure and function are sufficiently well understood to not require a full explanation in connection with the disclosure of this invention.

To accomplish the main object of this invention, which consists of .rotatively producing veneer of the sliced type, by the use of a slightly modified standard rotary mill, but entirely dis- .similar to the rotary product, it is necessary to mount this log eccentric to the true center ll of the mil-l indicated in Fig. 6. The dotted lines l8 indicate the path which log I6 is forced to travel by reason of this arrangement and they also indicate the veneer sheets that will be removed by the k-ni-fe. In consideration of these :dotted lines and the growth rings l9, it will be at once apparent that these rings are intersected repeatedly during the cutting operation and that the product will necessarily carry a close grained or fine lined figure which thwarts ready, distinction from sliced veneer, even by those skilled .in the art. It will also be observed that while the first sheets to be removed will be of a width 45 less than the diameter of log is, a large percentage of the sheets will necessarily have a width in excess of the diameter of the log.

When the sheets are all removed beyond a given boundary indicated by dotted are 20, the log is released and rotated 180 degrees about the true center of said log and chucks or arms A-A, which are eccentrically disposed to the mill axis passing through center I'l, when the log is again clamped between the mill centers and dogs as described supra and cutting resumed on the exposed or opposite side to that formerly operated upon. By this procedure an unusually large yield of high grade veneer can be removed from a given log and leave a very small percentage of the heart stock for other uses, termed the core and designated bynumeral ISA.

The chuck A shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is abnormally sturdily built as indicated and shown with an annular recess 2| and a square recess 22 for attachment to the ends of shafts H, H, the chuck being split at 23 in order that it may respond to the clamping action of bolt 24. This chuck is equipped with a group of dogs or spurs 25 radially disposed on one side of the center 26, while another group 2'! is likewise radially disposed, however they are diametrically arranged to the former group in terms of said chuck center and both of these groups are radially located beyond the true center of the mill as indicated in Fig. 6, also in Fig. 2.

In other words, the driving and supporting means for the log contacts only the ends of said log, said means being found in the specific structure of a chuck equipped with center 25, dogs or spurs 25 and 21 disposed within an arc, the chord of which passes through the axis of the main shafts H, of the veneer machine. In mounting these chucks on shafts II, II it is desirable that the centers 26 be aligned with each other and parallel to the true center of the mill and of course synchronously rotated.

It was observed that even with the improved facilities an unreasonable and an unnecessary loss of time and/or material occurred in rechucking the log for the second series of operations when attempting to procure the maximum yield from the second side of the log. These losses were eliminated or at least reduced to a minimum through the arrangement of spurs 25 in terms of each other and the center 26. It will be noted that the two aligned spurs i. e. the vertically disposed ones shown in Fig. 2, when removed from the end of log I6, after the first series of operations leave imprints, as indicated in Fig. 6. These serve as a guide for the operator during the rechucking operation. In place of approximating the proper location, the exact position is determined simply by aligning said designated vertical spurs with their imprints. This procedure takes place just prior to remounting or rechucking the log between the chucks Al for the second series of operations.

Modification The modified chuck AI shown in Fig. 4 is substantially the same as the one just described, however, dogs 25 are omitted in the drawing and it differs from it in that the fixed center 26 is replaced by a self aligning bearing 33 mounted in bore 3| and adjustably held by screw 32 in order that it may completely respond to alignment of trunnion 33. This trunnion is equipped with a machine screw 330, also a tapering wood screw threaded portion 33d projection similar in structure to a regular lag screw.

A trunnion is to be placed in each end of the log or a stock of logs in advance of mounting them in the mill which saves considerable time at the mill and insuring the logs being operated upon from a selected center according to its indicated grain formation. The bearing portion of each trunnion is entered at bearing 30 in each chuck and a working alignment immediately effected without the operator having to give issue to thought. The main shafts H, H of the mill are advanced toward the center of the machine which causes both sets of dogs to enter the end of the log as indicated in Fig. 6, however, the head 330 of the trunnion will pass into bore 3i and be relieved of all strains, it having performed its first function of locating the log. After the sheets of veneer l8 have been removed from one side of the log down to 20, or other selected boundary, the log is stopped in the position as shown in Fig. 1, with the uncut portion up, at which stage the nut 33b is unscrewed out to the end of 33a. The next operation consists of withdrawing shafts H, H by power and/or wheels l5, I5, until the end faces of the log will clear the dogs on each end when the log with the trunnion will swing, in bearing 30, clear of the dogs, by reason of the weight in the uncut side of the log. In response to gravity, log it has now automatically aligned itself for the next operation of removing the sheets of veneer from the uncut side as indicated by dotted outline in Fig. 1. Shafts H, II are now advanced to the gripping position when both groups of dogs 25 will be forced into the uncut side of the log while group 21 will be left clear of any contact with the log as there is no portion of the log left opposite same. The process of removing the veneer as described supra can now be repeated. In Fig. 5- a cross section of the log is shown with knives 35, 36 located in terms of the mill shaft center H. The former is used to remove the veneer in the usual manner while the latter is employed to remove a sheet of veneer during what would otherwise be the idle section of the cycle of operation. It will be understood that these knives will be operated by the same and modified suitable feed mechanism as that employed heretofore, however additional means must be provided to set and advance blade 36 to remove sheets the same as knife 35. A mill equipped with two knives or cutters would necessitate the same being advanced twice as fast as is employed for the ordinary procedure as twice the number of veneer sheets would be removed.

Itwill be observed that the stay log frequently employed on mills of this type on which a log can be cumbrously secured, by involved equipment, is entirely eliminated. This method and apparatus for producing sliced type of veneer is therefore highly economical in points of original cost of equipment, operating cost and of materials operated upon.

Scope The method of producing sliced type of veneer by a rotary action has been described in terms of a standard type rotary veneer mill. However, it must be understood that the basic principles dis closed herein can be incorporated into a specially designed machine in which the eccentrically disposed center and dogs could be carried in a radially adjustable head carried by and forming a part of the main shafts, or these shafts could be of sufficient size to carry these members arranged in the faces of same, in fact, substitution, elimination and modification of the disclosed elements and principles to effect combinations not detailed herein will suggest themselves to individuals versed in the allied arts, therefore, I wish to be limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a veneer machine having aligned synchronously operated shafts with ends juxtapositioned for eccentrically receiving a log and rotatively removing a plurality of individual sheets of veneer from one surface of a log and then from the diametrically opposite surface, seriatim, comprising in combination with each of said shafts, an integral arm equipped with two groups of spurs disposed eccentrically with respect to the axis of said shafts and located within an area limited by a semicircle, the diameter of which passes through the axis of said shafts.

2. In a veneer machine having aligned synchronously operated shafts with ends juxtapositioned for eccentrically receiving a log and rotatively removing a plurality of individual sheets of veneer from one surface of a log and then from the diametrically opposite surface, seriatim, comprising in combination with each of said shafts, an integral arm equipped with two groups of spurs disposed eccentrically with respect to the axis of said shafts and located with an area limited by a semicircle, the diameter of which passes through the axis of said shafts, one of said groups of spurs being located for engagement with the core or waste portion of said leg during removal of veneer from each of said surfaces.

3. In a veneer machine for rotatively removing individual sheets of veneer from diametrically opposed areas of a log, comprising in combination, a bed plate on which are mounted a linearly disposed veneer cutter and a pair of linearly adjustable, synchronously rotatable shafts, on each juxtapositioned end of said shafts is mounted a radially disposed arm equipped with two groups of dogs on which said log can be mounted to constitute the sole support of said log while being transformed into sheets of veneer, both of said groups being diametrically disposed on each arm in terms of the normal center of said log and cooperating to hold the full log during removal of veneer from one area of said log and only one group being employed to hold the remainder of the log during removal of veneer from the diametrically opposed area.

4. In a veneer machine for rotatively removing individual sheets of veneer from diametrically opposed areas of a log, comprising in combination, a bed plate on which are mounted a linearly disposed veneer cutter and a pair of linearly adjustable, synchronously rotatable shafts, on each juxtapositioned end of which is mounted a radially disposed arm equipped with one group of dogs disposed within an 180 arc, the chord of which passes through a center eccentric to the center of the veneer mill and another group of dogs disposed within the adjacent 180 arc, said arcs having a common chord, with both of said groups disposed Within an 180 arc, the cord of which passes through the center of said machine, said dogs being provided for engagement with the ends of said log while being transformed into said veneer, both of said groups adapted to hold the full log during removal of veneer from one area of said log and only one group employed to hold the remainder of the log during removal of veneer from the diametrically opposed area.

5. In a veneer machine for rotatively removing individual sheets of veneer from diametrically opposed areas of a log, comprising in combina tion, a bed plate on which are mounted a linearly disposed veneer cutter and a pair of linearly adjustable, synchronously rotatable shafts, on each juxtapositioned end of said shafts is mounted a radially disposed arm equipped with two groups of dogs on which said log can be mounted to constitute the sole support of said log while being transformed into sheets of veneer, both of said groups being diametrically disposed on each arm in terms of the normal center of said log and cooperating to hold the full log during removal of veneer from one area of said log and only one group of dogs on each arm, which are disposed closer to said center than the other group on the same arm, being employed to hold the remainder of the log during removal of veneer from the diametrically opposed area.

6. In a veneer machine for rotatively removing individual sheets of veneerfrom diametrically opposed surfaces of a log, comprising in combination, a bed plate on which are mounted a linearly disposed veneer cutter and a pair of linearly adjustable synchronously uniformly r tatable shafts, on the juxtapositioned ends of which are mounted chucks equipped with aligned pivots on which a log can be mounted, said pivots being disposed in eccentric relation to said shafts, constituting means for removing said sheets without removing said log from said centers wherein some of said sheets are of a width in excess of the maximum diameter of said log.

7. In a veneer machine for rotatively removing individual sheets of veneer from diametrically opposed surfaces of a log, comprising in combination, a bed plate on which are mounted a linearly disposed veneer cutter and a pair of linearly adjustable synthronously uniformly rotatable shafts, on the juxtapositioned ends of which are mounted chucks equipped with mounting means on and by which a log can be mounted, said means being disposed in eccentric relation to the axis of said shafts, constituting means for removing said sheets without removing said log from said mounting means wherein some of said sheets are of a width in excess of the maximum diameter of said log.

8. In a veneer machine for rotatively removing individual sheets of veneer from diametrically opposed surfaces of a log, comprising in combination, a bed plate on which are mounted a linearly disposed veneer cutter and a pair of linearly adjustable synchronously uniformly rotatable shafts, on the juxtapositioned ends of which are mounted alinged bearings for receiving trunnions attached to each end of a log, said bearings being disposed in eccentric relation to said shafts, constituting means for rechucking said log without removing same from said bearings.

9. In a veneer machine for rotatively removing individual sheets of veneer from diametrically opposed surfaces of a log, comprising in combination, a bed plate on which are mounted a linearly disposed veneer cutter and a pair of linearly adjustable synchronously uniformly rotatable shafts, on the juxtapositioned ends of which are removably mounted chucks equipped with aligned bearings for receiving trunnions attached to each end of a log and dogs disposed for embedment into the ends of said log, said bearings being eccentrically disposed in relation to the axis of said shafts, constituting means for rechucking said log without removing same from said bearings wherein some of said sheets are produced of a width in excess of the maximum diameter of said log.

10. In a veneer machine for rotatively removing individual sheets of veneer from diametrically opposed surfaces of a log, comprising in combination, a bed plate on which are mounted a linearly disposed veneer cutter and a pair of FIO 'ilinearly adjustable synchronously 'runiformly ,ro- :tatable shafts, on the ,juxtapositioned ends .of which are mounted chucks equipped with bearings for receiving trunnions attached to each :end of alog, also'two groups of dogs radially off- :set -from said pivots and disposed for embedment into the ends of said :log, said bearings being *eccentrically aligned in relation .to the axis of said :shafts, constituting :means for rechucking said log without removingsame-from said centers wherein some of said sheets are produced of a width vin excess 'of the maximum diameter of :said log.

11, In a veneer machine for rotatively removing individual sheets of veneer fromdiametrically opposed surfaces of a log, comprising'in combination, a bed plate'on which are mounteda linear- ;ly disposed veneer cutter and a :pair of linearly adjustable synchronously uniformly rotatable shafts, on the juxtapositioned ends of which are .mounted detachable chucks each being equipped witha pivot aligned eccentrically .in relation .to .the axis of said shafts, each of which forms a .nucleusfora group of dogs disposed for embed- .ment into the ends of said log, said pivots projectingbeyondsaid dogs to support the log when released from the dogs and thereby-facilitate reversing and rechucking the log.

:12. In a veneer machine for rotatively removingindividualsheets of veneer from diametrically opposed surfaces of'a log, comprising in combination, a bed plate on which are mounted a linearly disposed veneer cutter and a pair of linearly adjustable synchronously uniformly ro- 

